Walter claek



(No Model.)

W. CLARK.

BOX LOOK.

No. 365,048. Patented June 21, 1887.

4, ATTORNEY N. PETERs Pmwmhu n hcr. Washing'on. D. c.

Mrs STATES XVALTER CLARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOX-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,048, dated June 21, 1887,

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IVALTER CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and arcsident of the city, county, and State of New York, have i11- vented certain new and useful Improvements in BoxLocks, of which the following is a speciiication.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong and substantial lock for jewelry-boxes, photographic cameras, and other boxes, which will not necessitate so much cutting away of the material of which the box is formed as is usually the case, and which is a combined keyhole and button-latch, so that the box may be kept locked in such a way as to be released by pressing the button,or secure from any unloeking unless the key is used, as may be desired.

One form of my improved box-lock is shown in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1, is an elevation of the lock. Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof, the button-latch be ing removed. In Fig. 1 the lock is locked. In Fig. 2 it is unlocked. Fig. 3 is a section of the lock when locked. Fig. 4L is a detail of the piece in which the latch catches.

The same letters indicate similar parts in the different figures.

The body of the lock A is made preferably of brass, and, as shown in Fig. 3, is a simple plate bent at right angles and pierced with fou r openings-namely, a, the key-hole; b, the slot for the latch to pass through, and c c, screw holes for screwing the lock to the inside of the box. B is the button-latch, which consists of a piece of spring metal, brass, or otherwise, fastened to the lock-body at (l, and bent round, as shown in Fig. 3, so that it has a constant tendency to spring forward into the position shown in said figure, the latch end passing through the slot 1) and engaging with the piece of metal 0, which is secured to the lid of the box. Instead of being slotted with metal on both sides of the slot, this piece 0 is cutaway to form the opening for the latch, as shown in Fig. 4, the closed side being toward the button, as shown in Fig. 1, the lock not need ing any protection at the rear, and by this means the lock can be made secure on boxes of much thinner walls than ordinary locks.

At the center of the button-1atch B is a button proper, 1), through which the key-hole a passes. Pressure upon this button D when the lock is unlocked will throw the latch back to the rear end of the slot 1) and allow the box to open. To lock the box requires only that this backward motion of the button-latch should be prevented, and this is secured as follows:

One or more tumblers, E, ofany usual eonstruetion, are provided, set under the buttonlatch and held in place by the screw 6 and the barf, which are screwed to the lock-body. These tumblers are provided with a slot or slots, 9, Fig. 2, the shape of which,- as usual with locktumblers, is adapted to the form of key which is to be used, and the number of tumblers which can be used in my improved boxlock of course depends upon the thickness of the box, unless it should be desired to have the lock project inside the box, in which case any desired number of tumblers may be employed. The upper forward end of the tumblers is provided with a number of notches which engage the upper part of the barf, and, being held up in position by the spring h, effectual] y prevent the tumblers from slipping back and forth except under the action of the key.

The marked peculiarity of my tumbler consists in the fact that the tumbler nearest the button-latch is provided with a projecting ridge, '6, which is of such length that when the tumblers are in the position shown in Fig. 2 this ridge offers no impediment to the free playing back and forth of the button-lateh. The box is then said to be unlocked, because the button may be depressed and the latch released at will without the use of a key. \Vhen, however, the tumblers are moved forward into the position in Fig. 1, the projecting ridge t'is brought under the buttonlatch, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and effectually prevents the latch from being pressed in by the button, and the box is therefore locked.

Among the advantages of my lock and of the form shown in the drawings are two: First, that when the key is inserted and turned to the left it may be turned once or many times; but when withdrawn it always leaves the box locked. If turned to the right it may be turned once or many times; but when withdrawn it always leaves the box unlocked. The reason of this is readily understood from the construction of the slot 9, Fig. 2.

The second advantage spoken of is that the key itself when inserted in the look turns unhaving a push-button formed integral thereder the button-latch and aslong as it is in the with and provided with a key-hole passing lock the button cannot be depressed, the key through the same, in combination with al0ckr 5 itself supplying the impeding ridge. The ading device to prevent the action of said spring- 5 vantage of this is that if anybody unfamiliar latchand push-button when brought into lock with the lock should try to open the box, having engagement therewith, as herein described ing found or stolen the key, he would fail to and shown.

do so as the expedient of withdrawing the key before trying to open the box would not VALTER CLARK 1o readily suggest itself. Witnesses:

I claim GEO. I-I. SONNEBORN,

A box-lock which consists of a spring-latch W. I. PREBLE, Jr. 

